SPRUCE KINGS SPOIL EXPRESS HOME OPENER

Reid Cooper made 47 saves - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Prince George snapped a mini two game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Express in their home opener. Click here for boxscore

Reid Cooper stood tall in the Express crease with 47 saves on 51 shots sent his way.

Colby Pederson - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Right off the bat the Express netminder was put to the test. He faced 21 Prince George shots in the first period. The only puck to beat him was off the stick of Dustin Manz who finished off a give and go with Patrick Cozzi with Manz snapping a shot past the glove of Cooper. That was the lone blemish in an otherwise strong period as Cooper did all he could to hold Prince George at bay.

In the second period breakdowns led to the Spruce Kings adding to their lead. Ben Poisson finished off a 2 on 1 to for a 2-0 lead. That was followed 1:26 later by a goal from Corey Cunningham burying the rebound of a Ryan Stack shot for a 3-0 lead by the 3 minute mark of the second period.

Down 3-0 the Express power play clawed them back into the game. First Jordan Schulting jumped in from the point and found a loose puck and scored his first of the season make it a 3-1 game at 15:14. Then 2:32 later Mitch Newsome's one timer missed the net but the rebound bounced to Christian Sanda who buried his 3rd of the season at 17:46.

J. Schulting had 1 goal & 1 assist - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Early in the third the Spruce Kings re-stored their two goal lead when Ben Brar behind the Express net on a crafty reverse pass set up Manz for his second of the game just two seconds after a Christian Sanda penalty came to an end.

Mitch Newsome scored with just 4 minutes remaining for his first of the season to pull the Express within one. Newsome finished with 1 goal and 1 assist.

But like last night in Salmon Arm a late third period penalty cut into the time the Express could have used to push for the equalizer.

In the final minute goaltender Reid Cooper was pulled for the extra attacker. But before the Express could get control of the puck it was fired up to Ben Brar who hit the empty net to seal the win for Prince George.

The final shots finished 52-21 for the Spruce Kings. The Express went 2 for 5 on the power play while killing of all 5 Spruce Kings powerplays.

The Express will seek their first win of the season Sunday afternoon vs. the Cowichan Valley Capitals.